12 November 2018
Babcock and Restaurant Group“The FTSE 100 was the best performing major stock market index across Europe and Asia on Monday, rising 0.4% to 7,135. Commodity producers and banks were the key drivers for the blue-chip index, helped by a rising oil price and chatter about HSBC accelerating its growth plans with a new push in Brazil,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ...
9 November 2018
AO World and Informa“The FTSE 100 slipped 0.6% in early trading on Friday to 7,096, rounding off a frustrating week for investors.
“Just as it looked like the US midterm election results would give a boost to markets around the world, momentum has been quickly lost.
“A falling oil price has troubled investors and shifted their focus back to concerns about a slowdown...
8 November 2018
Sainsbury's and Auto Trader“A wealth of corporate news has stirred new life into the market with the FTSE 100 rising 0.4% to 7,145. Pharma, banking and miners help to lead the blue-chip index higher,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Sainsbury’s“Half year like-for-like sales growth of 0.6% for Sainsbury’s may show an acceleration from the 0.2% growth...
7 November 2018
Marks and Spencer, Persimmon and Redrow“A decline in the dollar following the US midterm elections has given a welcome boost to the mining sector as it will be cheaper for many foreign companies to buy dollar-denominated commodities. Interestingly there is also an unusual movement of both cyclical and defensive stocks rising in harmony.
“On the London market, stocks like United...
6 November 2018
Greene King, William Hill and Morrisons“European markets were looking a bit wobbly on Tuesday with the FTSE 100 and Germany’s Dax indices both down 0.1%. On the London market, strength among miners and financials was more than offset by weakness among construction firms and telecoms,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
Greene King“One of the London market’s longest...
5 November 2018
ITV and HiscoxA 0.2% decline in the FTSE 100 on Monday morning was driven by weakness in insurers and banks. The negative trend was also seen across Asia including a pullback in Hong Kong following last week’s rally. Markets are likely to remain choppy ahead of the US midterm elections on Tuesday,” says Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell.
ITV“Broadcaste...
2 November 2018
Barclays and Paddy Power“A 0.6% rise in the FTSE 100 on Friday to 7,158 puts the index at its highest level since early October. However, investors are unlikely to be celebrating too hard given the index still remains 6.9% down year-to-date.
“The FTSE 100’s star performers at the end of the week included construction rental group Ashtead, banking firm Standard Chartered...
1 November 2018
BT, Just Eat and Royal Dutch Shell“This week’s recovery rally has taken a small step back with the FTSE 100 dipping 0.2% on Thursday. In comparison, markets in mainland Europe continued to enjoy steady gains as did parts of Asia such as Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index which jumped 1.75%.
“Oil stocks were out of favour, which has a negative impact on the FTSE 100 as its biggest...
31 October 2018
Next and William Hill“The markets are racing ahead following a very good session last night in the US where the S&P, Nasdaq and Dow Jones all posted gains in excess of 1.5%.
“It’s now the turn of European and Asian stocks to join the rally with the FTSE 100 shooting up 1.5% in early trading on Wednesday and Japan’s Nikkei 225 index jumping 2.2%.
“The latest rally means...
30 October 2018
Cash flow supports BP dividend and share price as oil major looks to start growing its output once more“For the second straight quarter in a row, BP has paid a quarterly dividend of 10.25 cents, up from 10 cents a year ago. That year-on-year increase, coupled with autumn’s slide in the share price, means the shares are offering a dividend yield of almost 6% for 2018 and 2019,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell investment director.
“The company still has to...
30 October 2018
Post-budget stock market reaction and Restaurant Group Post-budget stock market reaction“There are numerous potential winners and losers on the stock market from yesterday’s Budget and the market is now getting its first proper chance to price in this news.
“Some of the announcements would have been made while the market was still open yesterday, although many investors won’t have had time to digest...
29 October 2018
Budget 2018: our first thoughtsThe Budget failed to make a significant impact on the London stock market with the UK-focused FTSE 250 index moving up slightly during the start of Chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech, before giving up all of these gains and more.
While the index closed the day 1.17% higher at 18,566, all of the gains were ultimately attributable to this morning’s...
29 October 2018
Chinese market crash and HSBC“European markets enjoyed a stronger start to the week, despite a sell-off in China as investors digested the impact of a trade war with the US on industrial earnings.
“China’s CSI 300 index fell 3% on Monday following National Bureau of Statistics data over the weekend which showed industrial profit growth in September had slowed to 4.1% year-on...
26 October 2018
Royal Bank of Scotland and International Consolidated Airlines“Any suggestion UK stocks might end the week on a more positive note has been swatted aside after the third quarter sales performance of Amazon and Google’s parent company Alphabet disappointed after the market close in the US. “Given the technology sector helped lead US indices to fresh highs in 2018 and is so dominant, its performance in the...
25 October 2018
WPP and Debenhams“Investors remain nervous about the state of the world, as reflected by yet another red day for markets across most of Europe and Asia. The chief concerns are the potential negative impacts of higher interest rates, weaker global growth and the knock-on effects of trade tariffs. “The FTSE 100 fell 0.7% in early trading on Thursday to 6,912 with...
24 October 2018
Barclays, Metro Bank and Yu Group“Defensive stocks came to the market’s rescue on Wednesday morning with consumer goods and utilities helping to lift the FTSE 100 by 0.5% to 6,988. Markets in mainland Europe also enjoyed a rebound, although investors will be watching that part of the world closely after new figures showed Germany’s business activity had grown by its slowest rate...
23 October 2018
Whitbread and Intu Properties“A tough day on the markets put the FTSE 100 at a seven-month low of 6,991 in early trading on Tuesday. Markets flashed red across Europe and Asia amid geopolitical tensions focused on Saudi Arabia, plus a falling oil price, Italy’s budget issues and ongoing Brexit concerns among many other issues. “Only 16 stocks in the FTSE 100 were in positive...
22 October 2018
Ryanair and NMC Health“Markets across Europe and Asia soldiered ahead at the start of the new trading week. China’s Shanghai composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index were particularly strong. In the UK, the FTSE 100 nudged 0.2% higher to 7,066 with miners, healthcare services and banking stocks among the strongest performers, compared with weakness in gambling...
19 October 2018
London Stock Exchange, Intu Properties and Pendragon“There is a chirpier end to the week for the FTSE 100 with a 0.3% rise to 7,045 in early trading. Most of the major markets in Continental Europe markets moved higher while there were mixed fortunes across Asia.
“Next week’s corporate reporting season is very important for UK investors as there are updates from a lot of big companies including...
17 October 2018
Subscriber growth boosts Netflix but cash flow and valuation questions remain“Investors in Netflix will be breathing a sigh of relief after the media services provider handily beat subscriber growth forecasts for the third quarter and raised expectations for the final three months of the year,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director. “Bulls of the stock market more generally will also be delighted, especially if...
17 October 2018
Autumn stumble brings defensive (and value) sectors back into focus“The FTSE All-Share is down by 10% from the closing all-time high of 4,324 reached in May and the autumn shake-down also means that the index is down by 8% for the year,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“The shift in the market’s mood music can also be seen in which sectors are doing well and which are doing badly. Just 10 of the 39...
17 October 2018
Pearson, ASOS and Housebuilders: Barratt Developments / Crest Nicholson“Following a very strong show on Wall Street last night, markets across Europe and Asia did their best to push forward on Wednesday. The FTSE 100 nudged up 0.1% in early trading to 7,065 with pharmaceuticals, tech and financials in fashion,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Pearson“Is the market now warming to education publishing...
17 October 2018
9 ways savers can prepare for the BudgetChancellor Phillip Hammond set the usual pre-Budget rumour mill into overdrive last week when he told journalists the current pension tax relief system is eye-wateringly expensive .
Most have taken these comments as a hint retirement savings incentives will be cut once again on 29 October – although the Government’s response to the Treasury...
16 October 2018
Supermarkets: Co-op, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s and Merlin Entertainments“Gains in European and Asian markets failed to extend to London on Tuesday morning, leaving the FTSE 100 flat at 7,026. Strength among utilities and insurers was offset by weakness in miners and tobacco stocks. Notable macro news included a cooling in China’s producer price inflation for the third month in a row,” says Russ Mould, Investment...
15 October 2018
Greencore and Superdry“There is a noticeable lack of bargain hunters on Monday morning as last Friday’s rebound in select parts of the market fails to extend into the new working week. The FTSE 100 was down 0.1% in early trading at 6,988 with investors clearly lacking confidence to snap up stocks whose share prices were badly damaged in last week’s market sell-off. “On...
12 October 2018
Markets: did any big shares rise during the past week's turmoil?“Stock markets are fighting back after a horrific week. On Friday, both London and the main European markets were in positive territory, so too Asia. Commodity prices also picked up with notable gains in gold and oil. “While it is too early to tell the precise mood of investors, it initially looks as if there are some individuals regaining an...
11 October 2018
Hays and Keller“In the context of the sell-offs seen overnight in Asia and across the Atlantic the FTSE 100 made a relatively solid start, though it is still down more than 1% in early trading.
“Whether the US Federal Reserve is, as President Trump argues, ‘crazy’ to be lifting interest rates the prospect of further hikes certainly seems to be a catalyst for a...
10 October 2018
Quantity and quality of FTSE 100 earnings both improve even as the index struggles“As the FTSE 100 remains in the grip of a global bout of ‘risk-off’ sentiment, investors can draw some reassurance from how the quantity and quality of UK plc’s earnings seem to be improving,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
Quantity of earnings
“Aggregate pre-tax profit forecasts for the FTSE 100 in 2018 continue to rise and now...
10 October 2018
Patisserie Holdings and Hollywood Bowl“The FTSE 100 is back in negative territory once again, with miners and engineers among those worst hit. Also struggling is the packaging sector which has experienced a big sell-off in recent weeks, despite it being an industry with structural growth thanks to the rise of e-commerce and the need for lots of packaging to send out goods. “Markets...
9 October 2018
Aviva and Greggs“The FTSE 100’s losing streak has come to an end on Tuesday morning, much to investors’ relief. Having fallen 3.7% in three trading days to Monday amid concerns over rising US Treasury yields, the market now finds its feet with a 2 point rise to 7,235. European markets are also acting in the same way with new-found stability. “Miners, in particular...
8 October 2018
French Connection and Lancashire“Against last Friday’s widespread sell-off in global markets, Monday’s 0.2% fall in the FTSE 100 could have been a lot worse. The minimal decline would suggest that investors aren’t in panic mode despite the negative headlines about new troubles in the bond market. “ Ocado, Tesco and Vodafone are among the worst FTSE 100 performers on Monday...
5 October 2018
Unilever and Intu“The FTSE 100 took another tumble this morning as reports of an imminent breakthrough on Brexit helped lift sterling ahead of the key US non-farm payrolls release out this afternoon,” says AJ Bell Investment Director Russ Mould.
Unilever“Today’s climbdown from Unilever over a plan which would have necessitated its exit from the FTSE 100 is an...
4 October 2018
Ted Baker and DFS"Markets across Europe and Asia tripped up on Thursday after a rise in US Treasury yields to levels not seen since 2011. The Treasury yield is commonly seen as the risk-free rate for investing, so an increase tends to be negative for other asset classes including shares. "A higher oil price lifted Royal Dutch Shell and BP, which are among the top...
3 October 2018
Thai troubles take some of the gloss away from Tesco’s UK turnaround“An eleventh consecutive increase in like-for-like sales in the UK, a strong performance from £4 billion acquisition Booker and a 67% increase in the interim dividend are not proving enough for Tesco shareholders, as the (adjusted) operating profit figure has undershot analysts’ forecasts by some 5%,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director.
“...
3 October 2018
Crunch time approaches for Unilever’s Netherlands moveOn 26 October UK shareholders in consumer goods giant Unilever will vote on a plan which would see the business exit the FTSE 100 index as it abandons a dual UK-Dutch stock market listing and moves its headquarters to Rotterdam.
This meeting will follow one 24 hours earlier in the Netherlands where Unilever needs 50% approval from its Dutch...
2 October 2018
Ferguson and St Ives / Kin and Carta“Just as one market issue gets solved, with progress towards a new trade deal between the US, Mexico and Canada, so President Trump reopens old wounds with China and the EU. This led to weakness in Asian markets overnight and, combined with ongoing ructions over Italy, means the FTSE 100 is falling despite a weaker pound. “The negative correlation...
1 October 2018
Ryanair“The FTSE is sitting still at 7,511 as we start the final quarter of the year. Stronger action on the markets can be seen overseas where Japan’s Nikkei 225 has hit a 27-year high,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Ryanair“A cocktail of problems has left Ryanair looking very weak and its shares trading at a two-year low. A 12%...
28 September 2018
Serco and Funding Circle“Although the stock market is a bit juddery at the moment, the underlying trend is still pointing upwards despite some moments of weakness. While the FTSE 100 was flat on Friday morning at 7,539, it is on track to finish the week 0.6% ahead.
“A continuation of this trend would imply the FTSE 100 has a good chance of moving back into positive...
27 September 2018
Sunshine helps Next but retailer’s online expertise is the real ray of light“As many suspected after the May and August trading updates, Next had been doing its best to keep a lid on sales and profit forecasts but boss Lord Wolfson has now officially raised the company’s guidance for the year to January,” says Russ Mould, AJ Bell Investment Director. “As a result, Next now expects to hold pre-tax profits broadly flat in...
27 September 2018
TUI and Mitchells & Butlers“There is a sea of red on the markets today, with Continental Europe and Asia faring the worst. Europe was hit by concerns over Italy’s budget meeting, the latest US interest rate hike served to trouble investors, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index saw particular weakness in technology stocks. “On the London market, the FTSE 100 dipped 0.1% to 7,502...
26 September 2018
BooHoo and AA“It is a mixed day on the markets with a flat performance in the UK and Europe and a weak day in India, although Hong Kong bucks the trend with a strong day on the Hang Seng index (up 1.3%). The London market doesn’t have any clear patterns with none of the big sector constituents moving in unison. “In early trading, the best performer on the FTSE...
25 September 2018
Next and Card Factory“A stronger oil price gave a welcome lift to the FTSE 100 on Tuesday, pushing up shares in Royal Dutch Shell and BP whose movements have a large influence on the overall stock market index. A stronger showing from tobacco and pharma stocks also gave support to the FTSE,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
Next“A big component of...
24 September 2018
Randgold Resources and Thomas Cook“The FTSE 100 has failed to sustain positive momentum seen last week, with the index falling 0.3% to 7,468 on Monday. Tech, banking and natural resources are among the sectors struggling to win over investors, despite the presence of two M&A deals in the FTSE 100 – being the market reacting to Sky’s auction at the weekend and news of Randgold...
21 September 2018
Just Eat, Uber, Deliveroo and Moss Bros“Every small step forward counts in the world of investing and so it is pleasing to see the FTSE 100 head into the weekend on a positive note. The blue chip index is on track to end the week up 1.7%, a decent result given that we’ve spent the previous few months with a miserable performance on the markets. The biggest movers on the week have been...
20 September 2018
British American Tobacco and Diageo“The FTSE 100 has been going through a fairly stable period this month, if you ignore the first week’s trading. Stability is good for rebuilding investor confidence as we approach the final quarter of the year and bright spots on the London market on Thursday include mining, banks and travel stocks,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell...
19 September 2018
Supermarkets: Sainsbury’s and Tesco and Kingfisher“A sense of calm can be felt on the markets today with the FTSE 100 nudging up 0.3% to 7,324. Screens are also flashing green across Continental Europe and Asia. Miners, banks, housebuilders and construction companies all enjoy share price gains on the London market, with the only real area of weakness being utilities,” says Russ Mould, Investment...
18 September 2018
Markets and Ocado Markets“An escalating trade war between the US and China may have provided an unhelpful backdrop to global markets yet parts of Asia have shrugged off the latest events with leading indices in China, Hong Kong and Japan rebounding on Tuesday.
“On the UK market, the FTSE dipped 0.2% in early trading to 7,286, dragged down by renewed weakness in...
17 September 2018
Dairy Crest and Petra Diamonds“There is a patchy start to the week for investors with London shares slipping and most of Continental Europe and Asia also in the red. The mining sector’s rally last week has proved to be short lived with Glencore, Antofagasta and Anglo American among the weakest FTSE 100 stocks on Monday. The only real bright spots on the UK market were utilities...
14 September 2018
Investec and JD Wetherspoon“The FTSE 100 has been a source of frustration for investors for several months and hopes that it would spring back to life after the summer ended haven’t been fulfilled. While the index of London’s largest listed companies was in positive territory on Friday, trading 0.4% higher just after the market opened, the performance is nowhere strong...
13 September 2018
Morrison stays on track as McColl’s link-up adds to recovery’s momentum“In some ways it is a shame that Morrison’s interim results are marred by two exceptional items that knock £61 million off stated profits, as the underlying financial and strategic progress is good,” says Russ Mould, Investment Director at AJ Bell.
“An eleventh straight quarter of like-for-like sales growth, strong momentum in wholesale thanks to...